5 

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Booh 


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Spanish  anb  Portuguese 
Congregation  Sbearitb  Hsrael 

tn  tbe  Cits  of  Wew 


5668*1908 


OUR    PRESENT    SYNAGOGUE 
CENTRAL    PARK    WEST   AND   SEVENTIETH   STREET 


Booh 


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Spanish  anb  Portuguese 
Congregation  Sbearitb  Israel 

in  tbe  Gits  of  Hew  H>orfc 


5668*1008 


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(k  of  the  first  synagogue  erected  for  the  congregation 
made  from  memory  by  an  old  resident. 


<S>flScer0  of  tbe  Congregation 
for  tbe  present  gear 


flMnigter  ano 


•Rev.  D.  peretra  flDenoes,  2>.H>. 

assistant 
TRer.  Isaac  oe  la  penba 

(to  December,  1907) 

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(from  ©ccember,  1907) 

3Boar&  of  Urustees 


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treasurer      -  -      -       rtMtcbell  H.  Cass 


(£ boir  fltaetrr        -        Ktan  iCramrr 

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2117316 


3be  Congregation 


The  handful  of  men,  women  and  children  who  formed  the 
original  community  in  1655  numbered  probably  seventy  to  seven- 
ty-five persons,  and  included  those  who  arrived  in  that  year  from 
Brazil  in  the  Ship  St.  Catarina  and  from  the  West  Indies  in  the 
Ship  Pear-Tree  in  the  preceding  year.  The  community  included 
also  a  few  established  merchants  from  Holland  and  the  West 
Indies  and  necessarily  not  a  few  settlers  who  needed  help. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  congregation  to-day  are  direct  de- 
scendants of  the  original  members  and  of  those  who  joined  the 
congregation  in  the  first  century  of  its  existence.  Typical  of  this 
fact  is  the  circumstance  that,  of  the  present  Board  of  Trustees, 
three  out  of  the  seven,  besides  the  clerk  of  the  board,  are  direct 
descendants  of  Isaac  Mendez  Seixas,*  who  died  in  1781,  and  two 
others  of  the  board  are  married  to  his  descendants.  The  Parnas, 
treasurer  and  clerk  are  descended  from  Rev.  David  Mendez 
Machado,  minister  of  the  congregation  from  1734  to  1753. 

From  Hazanim  Abraham  Haim  de  Lucena,  (1682-1720), 
David  Mendez  Machado  (1734-1753),  Gershom  Mendez  Seixas 
(1766-1816),  and  Moses  Levi  Maduro  Peixotto  (1816-1828), 
and  from  Hayman  Levy,  Luis  Gomez,  Joseph  Torres,  Jonas  Phil- 
lips, Uriah  Hendricks,  Simon  Nathan,  Isaac  Moses,  Isaac  Mendez 
Seixas  and  Moses  Levy  (of  Newport.  R.  I.),  are  descended  many 
members  of  the  present  congregation. 

The  ancient  congregation  Jeshuat  Israel  of  Newport,  R.  I., 
organized  in  1658,  was  originally  composed  of  Spanish  and  Por- 
tuguese Jews,  and  the  historical  burial  ground  and  Synagogue  at 
that  place  are  interesting  mementoes  of  our  pious  co-religionists  of 
those  early  days.  Subsequently  many  of  the  members  of  that 
congregation  removed  to  New  York  and  associated  themselves 

•Isaac  Mendez  Seixas  was  one  of  the  signers  in  177O  of  the  pact  to  make  more 
stringent  the  "Non-importation  Agreement." 


with  and  became  members  of  our  Congregation.  The  title  to  the 
Synagogue  and  Cemetery  is  now  vested  in  our  trustees  in  trust 
for  the  perpetual  devotion  thereof  to  their  holy  purposes. 


flDini0ter0  of  tbe  Congregation 


Saul  Moreno,  1655-1682. 
Abraham     Haim     de     Lucena, 

1682-1720. 

Benjamin  Wolf,  1720-1726. 
Moses  Lopez  de  Fonseca,  1726- 

1734- 

David  Mendes  Machado,  1734- 

1753- 
Benjamin       Pereira      Mendes, 

1753-I759- 

Joseph   Jessurun    Pinto,    1759- 
1766. 


Gershom  Mendez  Seixas,  1766- 

1816. 

Jacob  Raphael  Cohen,  1783. 
Emanuel       Nunez       Carvalho, 

1784. 
Moses  Levi  Maduro  Peixotto, 

1816-1828. 
Isaac  Benjamin  Mendez  Seixas, 

1828-1839. 
Jacques    Judah    Lyons,    1839- 

1877. 
Haim  Pereira  Mendes,  1877. 


LIST  OF  PARNASIM   OF  THE  CONGREGATION   FROM   THE  REVOLUTION 
(5536-1776)    TO   THE   PRESENT  TIME. 


Jonas  Phillips,  5536-1776. 
Solomon  Simson,  5544-1784. 
Myer  Myers,  5545-1785. 
Hayman  Levy,  5545~I785- 
Benjamin  Seixas,  5546-1786. 
Samuel  Judah,  5548-1788. 
Manuel  Myers,  5549-1789. 
Isaac  Moses,  5549-1789. 
Alexander  Zuntz,  5553-1793- 
Ephraim  Hart,  5554-1794- 
Simon  Nathan,  5556-1796. 
Joshua  Isaacs,  5559-1799. 
Jacob  Hart,  5560-1800. 
Isaac  Abrahams,  5562-1802. 
Benjamin  Gomez,  5562-1802. 
Naphtali  Judah,  5563-1803. 


Col.  Aaron  Levy,  5564-1804. 
Bernard  Hart,  5566-1806. 
Israel  B.  Kursheedt,  5570-1810. 
Seixas  Nathan,  5571-1811. 
Joel  Hart,  M.D.,  5571-1811. 
Benjamin  S.  Judah,  5573-1813. 
Hyam  M.  Salomon,  5573-1813. 
Joseph  Jacobs,  5575-1815. 
Naphtali  Phillips,  5576-1816. 
Harmon  Hendricks,  5584-1824. 
Moses  L.  Moses,  5587-1827. 
Solomon  J.  Isaacs,  5591-1831. 
Eleazar  S.  Lazarus,  5606-1846. 
Benjamin  Nathan,  5606-1846. 
Solomon  I.  Joseph,  5606-1846. 
Samuel  Lazarus,  5610-1850. 


Isaac  Phillips,  5615-1855. 
Jacob  L.  Seixas,  5618-1858. 
Jonathan  Nathan,  5622-1862. 
Jules  S.  Abecasis,  5624-1864. 
Barrow  Benrimo,  5629-1869. 
A.  R.  Brandon  Moses,  5630- 

1870. 
Solomon  L.  Cohen,  5638-1878. 


Asher  Kursheedt,  5640-1880. 
Horatio  Gomez,  M.D.,  5641- 

1881. 

Joseph  Blumenthal,  5642-1882. 
J.  Edgar  Phillips,  5644-1884. 
Isaac  Brandon,  5652-1892. 
L.  Napoleon  Levy,  5653-1893. 


(The  above  dates  refer  only  to  the  first  term  of  office.  Many 
of  the  Parnasim  were  re-elected,  sometimes  after  many  years' 
interval.  The  list  of  Parnasim  prior  to  5644-1784,  as  far  as  our 
records  show,  will  be  printed  in  a  future  year-book,  together 
with  a  list  of  the  Seganim.) 


•Report  of  tbe  rtMnteter 


THE  SERVICES. 

The  services  are  substantially  the  same  as  those  conducted 
by  the  founders.  This  constitutes  a  valuable  link  with  the  past, 
and  the  old  melodies,  such  as  those  of  Rosh  Hoshana,  Yom  Kippur 
and  the  other  holy  days,  have  all  the  more  charm  for  us  to-day  be- 
cause they  are  the  same  which  our  own  fathers  and  mothers  sang 
and  which  have  grown  to  be  part  of  our  earliest  and  most  sacred 
religious  associations. 

Besides  conducting-  the  time-honored  services,  it  has  been  also 
my  privilege  to  preach  on  Sabbaths  and  Holy  days. 

I  would  suggest  that  special  services  be  held  in  the  Synagogue 
on  Choi  Hamoed  of  Succoth,  on  Hanucah  and  on  Pureem,  with  a 
social  gathering  afterwards  in  the  assembly  and  vestry  rooms. 
The  social  life  of  the  congregation  should  always  be  a  most  im- 
portant consideration. 


STATISTICS  OF  THE  YEAR. 

During  the  year  1907  I  solemnized  seventeen  marriages. 

During  the  same  period  there  have  been,  I  regret  to  say,  twenty 
deaths,  among  them  some  of  our  oldest  and  most  esteemed  mem- 
bers and  seat-holders. 


EDUCATIONAL  WORK. 

I  conducted  during  the  past  year,  ladies'  Bible  classes,  a  young 
people's  Circle  for  the  study  of  Jewish  history  and  literature, 


Youth's  Class  for  Jewish  history  and  ethics,  Young  Men's  Cir- 
cle for  discussion  of  Jewish  subjects,  Teachers'  meetings  for  the 
discussion  of  methods,  etc.,  evening  classes  for  the  instruction  of 
the  Graduates  in  higher  Jewish  ethics,  Sabbath  afternoon  Circle 
for  reading  of  the  Torah  with  comments  of  Rashi,  etc.,  besides 
supervising  the  Sunday  School  as  superintendent.  I  have  recently 
instituted  a  Kindergarten  Bible  Class  under  the  direction  of  a 
qualified  lady.  This  last  provides  for  the  religious  education  of  our 
children  up  to  school-age.  Our  Sunday  School  takes  those  of 
school  age.  Our  Youths'  Class  provides  for  those  who  are 
too  old  for  our  School-influence.  We  have  additional  Hebrew 
classes  for  children,  for  young  ladies  and  gentlemen  and  for  the 
training  of  our  own  teachers.  Our  young  men  and  women  are 
continued  under  religious  and  Jewish  thought-influence  by  our 
Young  People's  Circle,  and  additional  work  in  this  direction  is 
being  planned  in  our  Junior  League.  Our  Young  Men's  Circle 
provides  for  subjects  of  special  interest  to  young  men,  just  as  our 
West  Side  Culture  Circles  does  for  young  women  and  a  Ladies' 
Hebrew  Class  meets  once  a  week.  Finally,  those  of  our  elders 
who  care  to  continue  Jewish  studies  gather  every  week  for  the 
Sabbath  Afternoon  Circle  for  Perushim,  etc. 

A  Culture  Circle  for  young  girls  is  also  under  my  supervision, 
in  which  I  am  assisted  by  my  wife  and  Rev.  Dr.  David  de  Sola 
Pool. 

In  all  the  duties  I  welcome  with  much  anticipation  the  assist- 
ance of  my  new  associate,  Rev.  Dr.  David  de  Sola  Pool,  whose 
family  traditions,  studies  and  personal  inclinations  assure  me  that 
his  help  will  be  invaluable  in  the  work  and  the  upbuilding  of  the 
congregation. 

COLLECTIONS. 

It  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  call  attention  to  some  of  our 
recent  congregational  collections. 

At  the  time  of  the  San  Francisco  earthquake  the  total  amount 
forwarded  by  us,  exclusive  of  what  our  members  sent  direct  to 
the  general  fund  or  to  other  special  funds,  was  $1,415.18. 

At  the  Tabernacle  Festival  of  5667  (1906)  a  collection  was 
suggested  to  furnish  the  Succah  with  new  table-service,  to  mark  the 

10 


twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  ladies'  committee  in  charge  of  the 
Succah  decoration  and  our  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary. 
The  service  was  specially  made  with  an  original  design  embracing 
the  symbols  of  the  festival  and  the  seal  of  the  congregation.  We 
feel  deeply  our  obligation  in  this  matter  to  the  ladies  of  the  Sister 
hood  Succah  Committee,  under  the  earnest  and  efficient  leadership 
of  its  chairman,  Miss  M.  Rosina  Samuel. 

For  the  Hospital  Saturday  and  Sunday  Fund  the  usual  col- 
lection was  made. 

It  will  be  of  interest  to  note  here  that  the  terrible  earthquake 
through  which  the  Portuguese  community  in  Kingston,  Jamaica, 
suffered  with  the  others,  was  the  occasion  for  us  to  make  another 
collection.  This  enabled  us  to  forward  $538.75,  a  thousand  pounds 
of  Matzoth  and  a  quantity  of  clothing  to  the  local  relief  com- 
mittee. 

We  have  also  had  special  collections  for  the  San  Francisco 
synagogues,  and  for  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  of  this  city. 


CONGREGATIONAL  SOCIETIES. 

The  congregation  to-day  has  the  following  societies  in  active 
operation :  The  Hebra  Hased  V'Amet,  the  Hebrew  Relief  Society, 
the  Polonies  Talmud  Torah  School,  the  Sisterhood,  the  Junior 
League  of  the  Sisterhood,  and  the  West  Side  Culture  Circle.  Re- 
ports of  these  societies  will  be  found  below. 

Contrasting  the  scope  of  our  congregational  work  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  ago  with  its  present  activities,  we  are  humbly 
grateful  to  God  that  we  are  able  to  accomplish  the  measure  of 
effective  work  which  we  attempt  to-day. 

Time  has  brought  many  changes,  and  the  community  of  Jews 
in  New  York  in  1655  numbering  probably  less  than  75  has  now 
become  a  community  of  at  least  750,000. 

The  statistics  attest  that  our  congregation  strives  for  the  com- 
munal good  and,  above  all,  for  the  glory  of  God. 

As  our  sphere  of  work  extends,  so  the  necessity  for  more 
workers  and  for  more  co-operation  increases. 

No  man  or  woman  of  the  Bible  age  of  manhood  or  woman- 
hood, twenty  years  old  and  upward,  affiliated  with  us,  ought  to 

n 


refrain  from  aiding  the  congregation  in  its  work  by  contributing 
to  its  funds,  by  personal  service  and  by  encouragement  in  its 
activities. 

Such  occasions  as  anniversaries  of  joy  or  sorrow  should  be 
utilized  to  send  a  contribution  for  charity  or  for  the  general  pur- 
poses of  the  congregation,  in  order  to  show  gratitude  to  God  for 
joy,  or  to  consecrate  the  memory  of  the  departed  loved  one  when 
an  anniversary  of  such  death  occurs. 

Furthermore  it  is  earnestly  urged  that  testamentary  bequests 
be  made  for  sacred  congregational  or  for  philanthropic  purposes. 
What  purposes  are  more  sacred  than  the  perpetuation  of  the  re- 
ligion in  which  our  fathers  and  mothers  lived  and  died?  I  plead 
for  this,  not  for  the  glory  of  the  individual,  not  for  the  glory  of 
the  Congregation,  but  for  the  glory  of  God,  the  God  of  Shearith 
Israel. 

H.  PEREIRA  MENDES, 
Minister. 


12 


•Report  of  tbe  pre0tt>ent 


The  number  of  electors  and  seat-holders  has  been  practically 
unchanged  for  several  years. 

We  have  in  our  congregation  to-day,  approximately  450. 

We  have  regretfully  relinquished  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
Isaac  de  la  Penha  as  assistant  Kazan.  During  the  years  that  he 
has  been  with  us  he  has  gained  the  respect  of  all  and  has  largely 
contributed  to  the  dignity  of  our  services. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  David  de  Sola  Pool,  of  England,  succeeds  him  in 
office.  A  call  was  extended  to  him  in  1906  by  the  trustees,  which 
he  accepted,  pending  the  completion  of  his  university  course  in 
Germany.  We  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  our  choice  has 
been  a  wise  one. 

He  was  inducted  into  the  Jewish  ministry  and  into  office  as 
our  assistant  by  our  minister  with  most  impressive  ceremony  on 
Sabbath  Vay'chi,  December  2ist. 

The  Synagogue  attendance  more  than  maintains  its  average. 

During  the  recent  Kipur  Holyday  we  initiated  a  successful 
innovation  by  using  the  large  assembly  room  for  overflow  services 
for  those  strangers  whom  we  have  not  been  able  to  accommo- 
date in  our  main  Synagogue.  These  were  conducted  by  Mr.  M. 
Guedalia,  assisted  by  his  sons  and  Mr.  R.  H.  Melamed,  with  such 
gratifying  results  that  I  recommend  their  continuation  from  year 
to  year. 

It  is  my  pleasure  to  report  that  receipts  from  membership  and 
offerings  have  somewhat  increased  over  those  of  previous  years. 
Receipts  from  all  sources,  $27,829-16;  expenditures,  $26,123.34; 
balance  with  the  treasurer,  $1,706.82. 

13 


The  property  of  the  Congregation  is  as  follows,  all  of  which 
is  unincumbered : 

Real  estate :  No.  7  West  I9th  Street,  site  of  present  synagogue 

and  minister's  house,  corner  7oth  Street  and  Central  Park  West. 

Burial  grounds:     New   Bowery;    nth   Street,  east  of   Sixth 

Avenue;   2ist  Street,  west  of  Sixth  Avenue,  and  Cypress  Hills, 

Long  Island. 

The  resources  of  the  Congregation  include  investments,  on 
bond  and  mortgage,  $60,309.20. 

The  liabilities  of  the  Congregation  are:  Due  to  the  Hebrew 
Relief  Society,  $18,000;  Bond  issue,  $8,400. 

Special  Funds :  Polonies  Talmud  Torah  School  Fund — Re- 
ceipts, $1,442.71 ;  expenditures,  $1,281.04;  balance  with  treasurer, 
$310.37 ;  capital  invested,  $24,769.77. 

Hesdra  fund,  $3,160  (income  devoted  to  charity). 

Perpetual  Cemetery  Improvement  Fund,  $6,740;  income  de- 
voted to  care  of  certain  plots. 

I  take  pleasure  in  announcing  that  Mr.  Adolph  Wallach  has 
established  the  Antony  Wallach  Perpetual  Memorial  Prize  Fund 
of  $1,000  for  the  Polonies  Talmud  Torah  School,  as  a  memorial 
to  his  deceased  brother,  the  late  Mr.  Antony  Wallach,  who  was 
for  many  years  trustee  and  treasurer  of  our  Congregation. 

The  Hon.  N.  Taylor  Phillips  has  also  established  a  Prize 
Fund  of  $25  annually,  as  a  Rev.  J.  J.  Lyons  memorial  prize  for 
Hebrew. 

The  following  are  the  standing  committees  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees : 

FINANCE — Messrs.  Nathan,  Lyons,  Hyman. 

POLONIES  TALMUD  TORAH  SCHOOL — Messrs.  Belais,  Cardozo, 
Elias. 

BURIAL  GROUNDS — Messrs.  Cardozo,  Belais,  Hyman. 

BUILDING  AND  REPAIRS — Messrs.  Hyman,  Lyons,  Elias. 

CHOIR — Messrs.  Lyons,  Cardozo,  Nathan. 

MEMBERSHIP — Messrs.  Elias,  Lyons,  Belais. 

It  was  recently  our  privilege  to  unveil  a  tablet  of  bronze  and 
marble  in  memory  of  our  deceased  ministers,  which  has  been 
placed  on  the  western  wall  of  the  auditorium  and  bears  the  fol- 
lowing inscription : 

14 


THIS  TABLET  IS  ERECTED 
BY  THE  CONGREGATION  SHEARITH  ISRAEL  IN  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 

UPON  THE  TWO  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTIETH  ANNIVERSARY 

OF  THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  JEWS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 

AND  OF  THE  FOUNDING  OF  THE  CONGREGATION 

IN  MEMORY  OF  ITS  DECEASED  MINISTERS 


Saul  Moreno'     . 
Abraham  Ilaim  de  Lacena 
Kenjamin  Wolf 
MOMS  Lopez  de  Fonseoa 
David  Mendes  Machado 
lienjamin  1'ereln  Mendes 


1«61J-1«82  Joseph  Jessuran  Pinto     .       .     1759-17M 

1882-17-^0  (iershom  Mendez  Sebcas  .       .     1766-1816 

1730-1726  Jacob  Raphael  Cohen.       178»\  Acting 

1728-1784  Kmanuel  Nunez  Carvalho,  1784/  Ministers 

1784-1763  Moses  Levl  Maduro  Peiiotto,      1816-1828 

1768  1769  Isaac  Benjamin  Mendes  Seucas,    1828  1839 


Jarqnes  Judah  Lyons,  1839-1877 

nyn  Dan*  urn  '^D  D'jn 

AND  I  WILL  GIVE  YOU  PASTORS  AFTER  MINE  OWN  HEART 
WHO  SHALL  FEED  YOU  WITH  KNOWLEDGE  AND  UNDERSTANDING. 

Jer.  ill,  15. 
666C=1005. 


I  take  this  opportunity  to  place  on  record  this  Congregation's 
deep  appreciation  of  the  devotion  of  all  those,  its  honored  minis- 
ters, to  its  most  sacred  interests  and  to  the  general  interests  of 
the  community  from  the  first  years  of  Jewish  settlement  in  this 
city. 

Kazan  Saul  Brown,  or  Moreno,  was  our  acting  minister  in  the 
stormy  days  when  the  first  stand  was  made  for  the  religious  and 
civic  rights  of  the  Jews  against  the  bigotry  and  oppressive  meas- 
ures of  Peter  Stuyvesant.  It  was  this  Saul  Moreno  who,  when 
later  he  became  a  private  merchant,  led  a  movement  to  induce 
Governor  Dongan  to  remove  a  certain  municipal  regulation  in- 
terfering with  the  Jews'  right  to  trade. 

Abraham  de  Lucena,  who  afterwards  succeeded  Saul  Moreno 
as  Kazan,  applied  in  1655,  with  others,  for  a  burying  ground  for 
our  Congregation.  The  next  year  he  demanded  for  the  Jews  the 
right  to  trade  and  hold  real  estate,  and  later  in  the  year  he  peti- 
tioned for  further  extension  of  those  rights. 

Kazan  Joseph  Jessurun  Pinto  arranged  the  table  for  the  time 
of  commencing  Sabbath  in  the  City  of  New  York. 

Foremost  of  our  early  leaders  in  religious  and  civic  matters 
was  Gershom  Mendez  Seixas,  who  was  minister  of  our  Congre- 
gation for  over  fifty  years,  extending  over  the  historic  period  of 
the  American  Revolution,  in  which  he  evinced  to  a  notable  degree 
his  fervent  patriotism.  He  closed  the  doors  of  our  synagogue 
and  left  the  citv  rather  than  conduct  services  under  British  rule. 


•  Better  known  as  Saul  Brown. 

15 


He  went  to  Philadelphia  where  he  founded  the  Mikveh  Israel 
Congregation.  On  his  return  to  New  York  he  became  one  of  the 
incorporators  and  one  of  the  Trustees  of  Columbia  College 
(formerly  King's  College),  which  office  he  held  from  1784  to 
1815.  During  that  period  he  was  also  one  of  the  regents  of  the 
University  of  the  State  of  New  York.  His  distinguished  services 
and  his  erudition  marked  him  as  one  of  the  most  prominent 
civilians  of  his  time. 

Next  to  him  I  would  mention  the  Rev.  Jacques  J.  Lyons,  for 
thirty-eight  years  the  spiritual  head  of  our  Congregation.  His 
earnestness  and  zealous  sympathy  for  whatever  concerned  our 
Congregation  and  our  co-religionists  will  always  be  affectionately 
remembered.  For  more  than  a  generation  he  was  a  notable  part 
of  the  social  and  family  life  of  the  Congregation.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  our  Hebra  for  several  years,  superintendent  and  principal 
of  the  Polonies  Talmud  Torah  School,  and  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Sampson  Simson  Jewish  Seminary  and  Scientific  Institute. 

To  both  the  two  last  named,  appropriate  memorial  tablets  have 
been  erected.  Two  other  mural  tablets  are  erected  as  memorials 
in  our  sacred  place  of  worship.  These  commemorate  the  bene- 
factions of  Washington  Hendricks,  who  bequeathed  "$5,000  for 
the  needs  of  this  holy  Congregation  and  the  charitable  organiza- 
tions associated  therewith,"  and  Abraham  Touro,  who  "bequeathed 
$10,000  to  this  holy  Congregation." 

During  the  year  we  have  approved  the  selection  of  a  minister 
for  the  Newport  Synagogue,  and  in  various  other  matters  we 
have  exercised  the  prerogative  vested  in  us  as  trustees  of  the 
synagogue  and  cemetery  properties. 

Our  congregation  is  seeking  to  conduct  its  work  modestly  and 
is  at  all  times  ready  to  continue  its  efforts  for  the  general  good. 
The  huge  growth  of  the  Jewish  community  of  this  city  has  neces- 
sitated the  creation  of  many  communal  institutions.  But  let  it 
always  be  remembered  that  for  nearly  two  centuries  our  con- 
gregation shouldered  the  responsibilities  of  the  entire  community 
by  providing  for  the  education  of  the  young  and  the  relief  of  the 
poor. 

Now,  when  the  members  of  our  old  congregation  constitute 
but  an  insignificant  fraction  of  the  Jewish  population  of  New 
York,  its  participation  in  the  communal  work  at  large,  both  in 

16 


personal  efforts  and  in  material  support,  is  certainly  not  less  than 
commensurate  with  its  numerical  proportion  to  the  total  number 
of  Jews  in  New  York. 

This  congregation  was  closely  identified  with  the  founding  of 
the  first  Jewish  communal  institutions  in  this  city. 

The  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital,  the  original  name  of  which  was 
"Jews'  Hospital  in  New  York,"  was  founded  in  1852  by  Sampson 
Simson,  who  was  a  member  of  this  congregation  and  the  son  of 
one  of  our  earliest  presidents.  Its  first  treasurer  was  Henry 
Hendricks,  and  its  first  secretary,  Benjamin  Nathan,  both  of  whom 
were  members  of  this  congregation.  On  the  death  of  Sampson 
Simson,  Benjamin  Nathan  became  president  and  Theodore  J. 
Seixas,  one  of  the  original  directors  of  the  Hospital  and  a  son 
of  Reverend  Gershom  Mendez  Seixas,  became  secretary  of  the 
Hospital.  Isaac  Phillips,  who  was  for  many  years  president  of 
our  congregation,  and  who  was  the  father  of  our  present  Clerk, 
was  also  one  of  the  original  directors  of  the  Hospital.  On  the 
death  of  Benjamin  Nathan,  the  Honorable  Emanuel  B.  Hart,  also 
a  member  of  our  congregation,  became  president  of  the  Hospital, 
and  the  resident  physician  for  many  years  was  Dr.  Mark  Blumen- 
thal,  now  one  of  our  oldest  members. 

Five  of  the  nine  incorporators  of  the  Hospital  (1852),  were 
members  of  our  congregation,  Messrs.  Sampson  Simson,  Ben- 
iamin  Nathan,  Henry  Hendricks,  Theodore  J.  Seixas  and  Isaac 
Phillips,  and  on  5th  Adar  5614  (5th  March,  1854),  in  recognition 
of  their  services  in  the  establishment  of  the  institution,  Messrs. 
Asher  Kursheedt,  Emanuel  Knight,  George  Henriques,  Emanuel 
B.  Hart  and  Adolphus  S.  Solomons  were  elected  honorary  mem- 
bers of  the  Hospital,  and  their  names  were  directed  to  be  in- 
scribed on  a  tablet  to  be  placed  in  the  Hospital  Building.  Among 
others  of  the  earliest  workers  may  be  mentioned  Rev.  J.  J.  Lyons 
and  Mr.  Barrow  Benrimo. 

The  Hebrew  Sheltering  Guardian  Society  was  founded  (1879) 
by  Hon.  Phillip  J.  Joachimsen,  of  our  Congregation,  who  re- 
mained President  of  the  Society  until  his  death,  and  who  was  at 
one  time  President  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  now  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 

The  Training  School  for  Nurses,  attached  to  Mount  Sinai 
Hospital,  was  planned  by  the  late  Mrs.  Alma  Hendricks.  In  her 

17 


memory,  steps  were  taken  to  call  such  an  institution  into  existence 
by  Mrs.  Florian  H.  Florance,  Mrs.  Charles  Hendricks  and  Mr. 
Albert  Hendricks,  who  invited  the  co-operation  of  others.  A 
meeting  of  ladies  of  various  congregations  was  called  for  that 
purpose  for  2/th  Heshvan,  5641  (ist  November,  1881),  at  Mount 
Sinai  Hospital.  On  lyar  I2th  (May  u,  1882)  the  institution  was 
opened,  with  Mrs.  Florian  H.  Florance  as  president  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Hendricks  as  honorary  secretary. 

On  23d  Tebet,  5644  (2ist  January,  1884),  our  Trustees,  at 
the  instance  of  our  minister,  invited  the  co-operation  of  the 
officers,  trustees  and  directors  of  various  congregations  and  in- 
stitutions of  the  city,  to  mark  appropriately  the  approaching  cen- 
tenary of  Sir  Moses  Montefiore  by  the  creation  of  something  of 
practical  value  to  the  general  community.  Meetings  for  that  pur- 
pose were  field  in  the  Synagogue,  West  Nineteenth  Street,  and 
the  result  was  the  establishment  of  the  "Montefiore  Home  for 
Chronic  Invalids,"  with  Mr.  Henry  S.  Allen  as  President  and 
Hon.  A.  S.  Solomons  as  Vice-President,  both  members  of  our 
Congregation. 

On  Rosh  Hodesh  Shebat,  5646  (;th  of  January,1  1886), 
through  the  action  of  Rev.  Dr.  Sabato  Morais  of  Philadelphia, 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Mendes,  our  minister,  our  trustees  co-operated  in 
a  movement  to  found  a  Jewish  Seminary,  now  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Professor  Schechter,  and  contributed  to  the  endowment 
of  a  permanent  fund.  The  sessions  were  held  during  the  first 
year  in  the  rooms  of  our  Synagogue,  then  on  I9th  Street. 

The  Seminary  shortly  after  its  organization  was  consolidated 
with  the  Jewish  Theological  Seminary  and  Scientific  Institution, 
organized  and  endowed  in  1852  by  Mr.  Sampson  Simson,  who 
was  its  first  president.  At  the  time  of  the  consolidation  Hon. 
Joseph  Blumenthal,  a  member  of  our  congregation,  was  the  presi- 
dent of  this  institution,  and  after  the  consolidation  became  presi- 
dent of  the  present  Seminary  and  continued  to  hold  that  office 
until  his  death  in  1901,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  A.  S. 
Solomons,  one  of  our  oldest  members. 

The  Rev.  Sabato  Morais,  LL.  D.,  was  the  first  president  of 
its  faculty,  and,  upon  his  death,  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Dr.  H. 
Pereira  Mendes. 

In  5658  (June,  1898),  the  first  convention  of  the  Union  of 

18 


Orthodox  Jewish  Congregations  of  the  United  States  and  Canada 
was  held  in  the  rooms  of  our  Synagogue,  under  the  leadership 
of  our  minister  and  Rev.  M.  de  Sola,  of  Montreal.  The  object 
of  the  convention  was  to  strengthen  the  interests  of  historical 
Judaism.  Rev.  Dr.  H.  Pereira  Mendes  was  chosen  president  and 
still  occupies  that  position. 

In  the  last  few  years  the  communal  work  of  the  Congregation 
and  its  constituent  societies  has  extended  to  such  proportions  that 
additional  meeting  rooms  and  school  accommodations  are  neces- 
sary. A  plan  is  now  under  consideration  to  erect  additional  stories 
on  the  small  synagogue  or  to  provide  in  some  other  way  for  these 
present  needs.  But  before  this  very  desirable  undertaking*  is  com- 
menced provision  must  be  made  to  finance  the  expense  which  is 
estimated  at  about  $25,000. 

There  is  hardly  a  Sunday  morning  in  the  whole  season  of 
work  which  does  not  demonstrate  how  inadequate  are  our  present 
accommodations  for  Sunday  School  and  other  classes,  trustee 
and  societies'  committees,  and  other  similar  requirements. 

Many  and  many  a  time  the  building  presents  the  scene  of  a 
busy  hive.  We  would  welcome  visits  from  any  of  our  members 
and  especially  from  those  who  imagine  that  the  synagogue  build- 
ing is  used  only  for  purposes  of  prayer  and  school.  I  believe  that 
even  one  visit  would  mean  a  revelation  to  many  of  our  members. 
I  am  certain  that  every  visitor  would  leave  us  with  an  enlarged 
idea  of  modern  congregational  work,  and  with  an  increased  in- 
terest in  our  Synagogue  and  its  activities. 

Our  congregation  should  continue  its  active  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  our  co-religionists  who  are  not  affiliated  with  our  syna- 
gogue. This  is  especially  desirable  in  the  congested  Jewish  quar- 
ters of  this  city  and  notably,  in  the  downtown  district.  Among 
the  greatest  of  our  duties  is  the  duty  of  administering  to  their 
spiritual  wants,  and  to  that  end  I  look  forward  to  the  time  when 
a  free  school  and  synagogue  can  be  built  and  maintained  by  our 
congregation.  The  young  men  and  young  women  who  feel  and 
who  express  their  need  of  spiritual  assistance  will  be  thus  helped 
by  us.  And  in  time,  not  a  few  of  them  would  be  found  valuable 
upbuilders  of  our  congregation's  influence  for  the  general  welfare 
of  the  New  York  Jewish  Community. 

A  special  committee  was  appointed  at  our  recent  congrega- 

19 


tional  meeting1  to  investigate  the  question  of  the  2ist  Street  ceme- 
tery and  the  advisability  of  the  removal  of  the  remains,  owing-  to 
the  encroachment  of  trade  and  the  difficulty  of  keeping  the  ground 
in  decent  order.  The  Board  of  Trustees  has  the  matter  under 
consideration,  with  due  regard  to  the  respect  which  should  be 
paid  to  the  resting-place  of  our  dead  and  to  the  requirements  of 
our  own  duty. 

May  our  congregation  continue  to  guard  the  holy  interests 
entrusted  to  us,  the  successors  of  those  who  sacrificed  so  much 
for  their  religion  and  who  helped  with  life  and  treasure  to  create 
and  upbuild  this  great  Republic  in  whose  midst  we  dwell  "every 
one  in  safety." 

And  may  we  continue  to  help  forward  the  welfare  of  the  New 
York  Jewish  Community  and  the  interests  of  our  holy  religion  in 
all  lands ! 

L.  NAPOLEON  LEVY, 

President. 


20 


Congregational  Societies 


HEBRA  HASED  V'A-AMET. 

The  Hebra  Hased  V'a-Amet  was  established  Tamuz,  5562 
(1802).  In  Tebet,  5572,  its  constitution  and  laws  were  revised 
by  Rev.  Gershom  M.  Seixas,  Messrs.  I.  B.  Kursheedt,  M.  L. 
Moses,  Aaron  Levy  and  Naphtali  Phillips.  In  Tamuz,  5611,  a 
committee  of  revision  was  appointed  as  follows :  Rev.  J.  J.  Lyons, 
T.  I.  Tobias,  Isaac  Phillips,  Benjamin  Nathan,  Jacob  Benrimo, 
assisted  ex-officio  by  Messrs.  Hillel  M.  Seixas,  president ;  Joseph 
Brandon,  treasurer;  L.  Joachimsen,  secretary.  Their  revision 
was  adopted  in  Heshvan,  5612. 

The  duty  of  the  society  is  to  attend  to  the  burial  of  its  mem- 
bers, but  the  burial  of  indigent  strangers  and  poor  connected  with 
the  congregation  frequently  devolves  upon  it. 

In  1902  the  society  celebrated  the  one  hundredth  anniversary. 
The  Acting  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York  and  other  civic  and 
official  representatives  took  part  in  the  celebration. 

The  balance-sheet  shows  $9,500  invested,  exclusive  of  a  be- 
quest last  year  amounting  to  $10,000  from  the  estate  of  the  late 
Amelia  B.  Lazarus. 

Receipts,  including  balance  carried  over  from 

preceding  year $3,381.48 

Expenditures $1,701.38 

Purchase  of  New  York  City  Bond 1,500.00      3,201.38 


Balance $    180.10 

Its  officers  are :  David  de  Meza,  honorary  president ;  Samuel  L. 
Hyman,  president;  Mortimer  M.  Menken,  vice-president;  N.  Tay- 
lor Phillips,  treasurer ;  L.  Mankiewicz,  secretary ;  Rev.  Dr.  H.  Pe- 
reira  Mendes,  L.  Napoleon  Levy.  Ernest  A.  Cardozo,  Adolph 
Wallach,  directors.  The  dues  are  $4  per  annum. 

21 


HEBREW  RELIEF  SOCIETY. 

The  origin  of  this  society  we  find  in  an  act  passed  on  April 
n,  1831,  "to  incorporate  the  society  for  the  education  of  poor 
children  and  relief  of  indigent  persons  of  the  Jewish  persuasion, 
in  the  City  of  New  York." 

On  May  2,  1870,  an  act  was  passed  to  consolidate  the  Hebrew 
Relief  Society  and  the  Hebrew  Female  Benevolent  Society  of  the 
congregation. 

The  object  of  this  society  is  primarily  to  supply  the  wants  of 
reduced  members  of  our  congregation,  where  it  is  desirable  to 
avoid  the  publicity  which  is  naturally  associated  with  a  public 
charitable  institution.  Such  a  society  is  a  very  desirable  adjunct  to 
a  congregation.  There  is  no  sorrow  more  terrible  than  want,  with 
pride  to  stand  in  the  way  of  relief.  In  every  congregation  there 
are  instances  where  help,  sufficient  for  the  need  and  not  a  partial 
aid,  is  demanded  and  where  timely  pecuniary  help  without  pub- 
licity is  required.  The  annual  dues  are  $3.00. 

Since  the  foundation  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  the 
Hebrew  Relief  Society  has  given  an  annual  grant  of  $500  to  that 
institution.  It  is  now  one  of  the  only  two  of  the  original  federated 
or  constituent  societies  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  which  still 
continue  their  adhesion. 

Its  last  annual  report  shows:  Receipts,  $1,446.08;  disburse- 
ments, $815.50. 

The  assets  of  the  society  are  as  follows: 

PERMANENT    FUND. 

Loaned  to  Congregation  at  4  1-2  per  cent.  .$18,000.00 
Invested  in  N.  Y.  City  4  1-2  per  cent. 

Bonds  at  cost 5,738.88 

Deposited  in  Greenwich  Savings  Bank  at 

4  per  cent 216.22     $23,955.10 

GENERAL  FUND. 

Deposited  in  Second  National  Bank I97-9I 

Deposited  in  Greenwich  Savings 892.87         1,090.78 

Total   Assets    $25,045.88 

22 


The  officers  are:  L.  Napoleon  Levy,  president;  Samuel  L. 
Hyman,  vice-president;  Albert  J.  Elias,  treasurer;  Louis  Man- 
kiewicz,  secretary;  Rev.  Dr.  H.  Pereira  Mendes,  Henry  Belais, 
Gratz  Nathan  and  M.  A.  C.  Levy,  board  of  managers.  Represen- 
tative in  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 
Mr.  L.  Napoleon  Levy. 


V.  THE  POLONIES  TALMUD  TORAH  SCHOOL. 

This,  the  oldest  Jewish  school  in  the  city,  was  founded  in 
1808,  and  will  celebrate  its  centennial  in  the  coming  spring.  It 
educates  the  children  of  the  congregation  and  all  children  who 
desire  to  come  to  us. 

The  trustees  of  the  congregation  are  ex-officio  trustees  of 
this  fund.  The  fund  has  received  accessions  from  time  to  time 
by  donations  or  bequests  from  Myer  Polonies,  $900.00;  Rachel 
Pinto,  $666.91;  Judah  Touro,  $13,000;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ostheim. 
$1,000.  Donations:  State  of  New  York,  $2,601.78;  City  of  New 
York,  $421. 

A  short  account  of  the  origin  of  this  institution  will  not  be 
out  of  place.  "At  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers  to  the  Hebrew  and 
English  school,  the  I5th  of  May,  1808,  Jacob  Hart,  Sr.,  was  ap- 
pointed chairman,  and  Isaac  M.  Gomez,  secretary.  On  motion, 
Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  subscribers  be  elected  by 
ballot,  who  shall  be  empowered  to  co-operate  with  a  committee 
of  the  trustees,  to  draft  a  plan,  rules  and  regulations  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  Hebrew  and  English  school,  to  contract  with  a 
suitable  teacher  or  teachers,  and  to  do  every  other  thing 
requisite. 

"Messrs.  Gompert  S.  Gomperts,  Judah  Zuntz  and  Mr.  Joel 
Hart  were  duly  elected.  The  board  of  trustees  appointed  Messrs. 
I.  B.  Kursheedt,  Moses  L.  Moses  and  Mordecai  Myers  to  co- 
operate with  the  above-named  gentlemen." 

The  above  is  from  the  Constitution,  Rules  and  Regulations 
of  the  Talmud  Torah,  established  in  the  City  of  New  York  on  the 
first  day  of  Si  van,  in  the  year  5568,  corresponding  with  the  27th 
day  of  May,  1808.  New  York :  Printed  by  Henry  C.  South  wick, 
No.  2  Wall  Street. 

23 


The  preamble,  too  long  for  insertion  here,  declares  what  is 
"the  chief  end  in  contemplation,  viz. :  to  instil  in  the  youthful 
mind  a  love  of  learning-,  a  veneration  for  religion  and  morality, 
and  an  attainment  of  useful  instruction ;  whilst  all  visionary  and 
impracticable  schemes  should  be  rejected  on  the  one  hand,  just 
as  salutary  maxims  ought  to  be  adopted  on  the  other." 

The  constitution  is  then  given,  of  which  Article  i  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

"That  a  school  denominated  Polonies  Talmud  Torah  be  estab- 
lished for  the  purpose  of  teaching  the  Hebrew  and  English  lan- 
guages in  all  their  concomitant  branches.  That  the  said  school 
be  under  the  immediate  care  and  direction  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, together  with  such  inspectors  as  may  be  chosen;  that  a 
suitable  teacher  be  provided,  and  the  establishment  to  go  into 
operation  the  seventh  of  June  ensuing." 

Want  of  space  prevents  reproducing  more  of  the  original  Con- 
stitution and  the  Rules  and  Regulations  which  are  set  forth  in  a 
pamphlet,  interesting  not  simply  because  of  its  quaintness,  but  be- 
cause it  indicates  the  deep  earnestness  and  true  religious  spirit 
which  then  moved  members  of  this  congregation  to  care  for  the 
religious  education  of  their  children. 

The  three  inspectors  appointed  by  ballot  when  the  above  Pre- 
amble, Constitution,  etc.,  were  adopted,  were  Messrs.  Bernard 
Hart,  Seixas  Nathan  and  Joel  Hart. 

The  present  Sunday  session  is  designed  in  the  Hebrew  de- 
partment to  qualify  the  pupils  to  translate  the  chief  services  and 
certain  sections  of  the  Torah,  so  as  to  be  able  to  follow  and  par- 
ticipate in  the  ritual  intelligently.  In  the  English  department  it 
teaches  religious  duty,  moral  and  ceremonial ;  Scripture  and 
post-biblical  history  and  Jewish  ideals.  Wednesday  afternoon 
classes  are  conducted  in  the  Synagogue  building. 

During  the  spring  season,  additional  classes  are  held  on  Tues- 
day and  Thursday  evenings. 

The  staff  of  the  school  consists  of  Rev.  Dr.  H.  Pereira  Men- 
des,  superintendent;  Miss  Sarah  Lyons,  principal. 

Teachers :  Rev.  Dr.  D.  de  Sola  Pool,  Messrs.  Rossinger,  Gustav 
Caiman,  Sydney  Katz,  Jerome  Katz,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Mitchell,  the 
Misses  Martha  Weil,  H.  Katz,  R.  Illoway,  G.  Friedman,  E. 
Boshkin,  B.  Goodman  ( accompany ist),  R.  Hirsch. 

24 


THE  SISTERHOOD. 

The  Sisterhood  was  formed  in  1877-78,  when  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society,  as  it  was  then  called,  was  organized  for  the  relief  of 
the  poor  and  for  the  nourishment  and  care  of  convalescents.  To 
these  objects  the  ladies  gave  their  personal  service,  and  in  a  year 
or  two  a  kindergarten  was  opened,  followed  in  due  time  with 
other  activities,  such  as  mothers'  meetings,  sewing  societies,  etc. 
Shortly  afterwards  educational  work  among  the  poor  was  under- 
taken, the  funds  being  provided  by  the  envelope  system — that  is, 
the  members  sent  anonymous  donations  in  envelopes  to  Rev.  Dr. 
Mendes  for  that  purpose.  The  school  has  worked  regularly  in 
the  down-town  district,  and  its  "class-clubs"  are  a  special  feature. 

When  Sisterhoods  were  formed  in  other  congregations,  it 
became  necessary  to  co-ordinate  the  work  of  this  congregation 
with  the  work  of  others,  in  view  of  the  district  system  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities.  The  three  congregational  societies — 
the  Ladies'  Aid  and  Sewing  Society,  the  Kindergarten  and  the  En- 
velope Society — were  therefore  amalgamated  as  a  Sisterhood.  It 
must,  however,  be  remembered  that  the  first  named  of  the  three  was 
a  revival  of  an  old  congregational  ladies'  society  known  as  the 
Hebrew  Female  Benevolent  Society  of  the  Congregation  Shearith 
Israel  of  the  City  of  New  York.  This  was  founded  as  far  back 
as  1821,  when  Mrs.  Richea  Levy  was  elected  first  directress; 
Miss  Judith  Myers,  treasurer,  and  Miss  Sally  Levy,  secretary. 
This  society  was  merged  into  the  Hebrew  Relief  Society  by 
special  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1870.  The  objects  of  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society  (incorporated  1888),  as  set  forth  in  the  following 
article  from  the  certificate  of  incorporation,  are  "to  provide,  make 
and  supply  clothing  to  necessitous  Israelites ;  to  administer  relief 
in  provisions  or  in  other  necessaries  to  the  poor  and  indigent ; 
to  secure  to  the  industrious  poor  the  means  and  opportunity  of 
earning  their  livelihood." 

The  present  Sisterhood  has  faithfully  carried  out  these  objects. 
It  has  relief  work,  kindergarten,  day  nursery,  children's  sewing 
classes,  girls'  clubs,  boys'  clubs,  young  men's  clubs,  etc.,  and  two 
religious  schools.  The  Young  People's  League  of  the  Sisterhood 
last  Fall  gave  a  very  enjoyable  affair  to  the  children  of  the  Congre- 
gation, the  Talmud  Torah  school,  and  to  some  of  the  mission 
schools. 

25 


The  nature  of  much  of  the  Sisterhood's  work  recalls  the 
fact  that  this  congregation  for  175  years  was  the  means  and  the 
only  means  of  keeping  the  ancient  promise  made  in  1655  that  the 
Jews  in  this  city  would  take  care  of  their  own  poor.  For  all 
those  years  our  old  congregation,  as  its  records  show,  took  entire 
charge  of  the  communal  work.  It  relieved  poor  residents ;  it  paid 
for  the  transportation  of  the  poor  from  New  York ;  it  established 
a  school  for  Hebrew  and  religious  education,  which  has  been  in 
existence  for  over  one  hundred  years ;  it  buried  the  poor,  for 
which  purpose  the  Hebra  was  established  in  1802.  It  is  true  that 
one  hundred  years  ago  the  New  York  Jewish  community  was 
probably  about  2.500,  but  we  must  not  forget  that  we  owe  to  our 
ancestors  and  predecessors  a  just  recognition  of  an  historic  fact 
that  not  only  they  looked  after  the  Jewish  poor  until  other  con- 
gregations were  formed  from  1824  and  after,  but  above  all,  they 
kept  up  the  honor  of  the  Jewish  name  in  the  general  community. 

ACTIVITIES  OF  THE  SISTERHOOD. 

KINDERGARTEN  :    Conducted  daily ;  average  attendance,  27. 
MOTHERS'  MEETINGS:    Held  monthly. 

GIRLS'  AND  BOYS'  CLUBS:  Four  evenings  a  week;  average 
membership,  30. 

DAY  NURSERY:    Daily. 

RELIEF  SECTION. 

In  District  East  7th  to  9th  Streets,  co-operating  with  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities ;  340  cases  in  one  year.  Total  amount 
expended,  $11,913.30,  of  which  the  Sisterhood  contributed  $2,500. 

DISTRIBUTING  AND  SEWING  SECTIONS:  Distribute  clothing 
weekly  to  worthy  applicants  and  gives  sewing  to  poor  women ; 
$789.25  was  expended. 

MISSION  SCHOOLS  :  Sunday  mornings  in  the  Sisterhood  rooms, 
114  St.  Mark's  Race;  average  attendance,  70  girls. 

Sunday  afternoons :  At  the  Educational  Alliance ;  average 
attendance,  200  girls. 

SUCCAH  COMMITTEE:  Tabernacle  of  the  Synagogue  deco- 
rated for  the  festival. 

26 


HOLY  VESTMENT  COMMITTEE:  Repairs  Sepharim  and  all  fur- 
nishings of  the  Synagogue. 

JUNIOR  LEAGUE  :  Conducts  sewing  class  for  girls,  four  after- 
noons a  week,  with  instructor;  average  attendance,  25. 

Expenses  of  the  Sisterhood  for  the  past  year,  $5,482.16. 

OFFICERS. 

Mrs.  H.  Pereira  Mendes,  Honorary  President. 

Mrs.  Mortimer  M.  Menken,  President. 

Mrs.  Edgar   Hendricks,   First   Vice-President. 

Mrs.  Albert  J.  Elias,  Second  Vice-President. 

Miss  Ellen  C.  Phillips,  Treasurer. 

Miss  Emily  R.  Wolff,  Recording  Secretary. 

Mrs.  Edwin  Goldsmith,  Corresponding  Secretary,  157  West 
8sth  Street. 

BOARD  OF   MANAGERS. 

Mrs.  Jacob  G.  Ascher  Miss  Sarah  Nathan 

Mrs.  Aaron  J.  Bloomberg  Mrs.  Julian  Nathan 

Mrs.  Edward  O.  Belais  Miss  Rachel  G.  Nathan 

Mrs.  Henry  Belais  Mrs.  Martin  Nathan 

Mrs.  William  B.  Cardozo  Mrs.  Beatrice  H.  Phillips 

Mrs.  Maurice  Cohen  Mrs.  N.  Taylor  Phillips 

Mrs.  Julius  Dukas  Mrs.  Maurice  Powers 

Mrs.  Emily  G.  Florence  Mrs.  Eugenie  Raphael 

Mrs.  Horatio  Gomez  Miss  Essie  Shoyer 

Mrs.  Nathan  S.  Hart  Mrs.  Phineas  H.  Toledano 

Mrs.  Julius  Laubheim  Mrs.  Chas.  G.  Wolff 

Miss  Sarah  Lyons  Mrs.  Julius  R.  Wolff 
Mrs.  L.  Napoleon  Levy 

THE  JUNIOR  LEAGUE. 

The  Junior  League  is  composed  of  younger  members  of  the 
congregation  and  their  friends.  Its  object  is  to  supplement  the 
work  of  the  Sisterhood  by  maintaining  a  sewing  class  for  girls 
and  by  helping  the  mission  schools,  etc.,  and  to  promote  Jewish 
study  and  social  intercourse  among  its  members. 

27 


Its  officers  are :  Rev.  Dr.  David  de  Sola  Pool,  president ;  Miss 
Blanche  H.  Reitlinger,  vice-president;  Mr.  E.  Knight  Harris, 
treasurer;  Miss  Ethel  Hendricks,  corresponding  secretary;  Mr. 
Edgar  J.  Nathan,  Jr.,  recording  secretary ;  Delegate,  Rev.  Dr.  D. 
de  Sola  Pool;  Committee,  Mr.  D.  Henry  Cardozo,  Jr.,  Mr.  S. 
Howard  Cohen,  Mr.  DeWitt  Fox,  Mr.  Walter  P.  Frank,  Miss  E. 
Levy,  Miss  Frances  W.  Levy,  Mr.  Clarkson  P.  Ryttenberg. 


MINOR  SOCIETIES. 

Among  the  smaller  societies  of  the  congregation  may  be  men- 
tioned the  circles  now  in  full  activity  and  already  referred  to  in 
our  Minister's  report. 

The  Culture  Circle,  the  youngest  of  our  societies,  came  into 
existence  two  years  ago.  It  has  grown  rapidly  and  is  maintained 
by  Jewish  working  girls  in  this  district  and  their  friends.  Its 
objects  are  indicated  by  the  title,  but  a  distinctly  religious  tone  is 
encouraged. 

CONGREGATIONAL  CLUBS. 

Friendly  Club  (Polonies  Talmud  T®rah  School). 

Loyal  Club  (Sisterhood  work  among  girls). 

Friendly  Circle  (Sisterhood  work  among  girls). 

Advance  Club  (Sisterhood  work  among  young  men). 

Albert  J.  Leon  Club  (Sisterhood  work  among  boys). 

The  Young  Helpers  (Down-town  Mission  School  work). 

The  Little  Helpers  (Down-town  Mission  School  work). 

The  Little  Sunbeams  (Down-town  Mission  School  work). 

Dr.  Mendes'  Helpers  (Down-town  Mission  School  work). 

The  Sunshine  Circle  (Down-town  Mission  School  work). 

The  Literary  and  Charity  Circle  (Down-town  Mission  School 
work). 

The  object  of  these  clubs  is  to  train  the  members  for  com- 
munal work,  and  to  educate  them  in  altruistic  principles. 

28 


WEEKLY  CALENDAR  OF  CONGREGATIONAL  WORK. 

Sunday :  Teachers'  Class. 

Polonies  Talmud  Torah  School. 

Youths'  Circle. 

West  Side  Culture  Circle  (alternate  Sundays). 

Young  Men's  Circle,  special  dates. 
Monday:          Ladies'  Hebrew  Class. 

Ladies'  Bible  Class. 

West  Side  Culture  Circle  (alternate  Mondays). 
Tuesday:          Young  People's  Circle  (alternate  Tuesdays). 
Wednesday:     Polonies  Talmud  Torah  School. 
Thursday:         Kindergarten  Bible  Class. 

Junior  Hebrew  Class. 

Senior  Hebrew  Class. 
Sabbath:          Gentlemen's  Circle  for  Torah  and  Commentators. 


Regular  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  on  the  first  Tues- 
day evening  in  the  month. 

Regular  meeting  of  the  Sisterhood,  the  third  Monday  in  the 
month. 

The  office  of  the  Clerk  is  open  every  Sunday  morning  for  the 
transaction  of  congregational  business. 


"May  the  Lord  God  of  your  fathers  make  you  a  thousand 
times  so  many  more  as  ye  are  and  bless  you."  (Deut.  I :  ii.) 


Calendar  of  fcolpoags  for  tbe  Ensuing  JT  our 

1908  1910 

Pureem March  17  Pureem March  25 

Passover April  16,  17,  22,  23  Passover April  24,  25,  3O,  31 

Pentecost June  5,  6  Pentecost June  13,  14 

New  Year September  26,  27  New  Year October  4,  5 

Atonement  ....October  5  Atonement.. ..October  13 

Tabernacles.. .October  10,  11,  17,  18  Tabernacles. ..October  18,  19,  25,  26 

Hanucah December  19  Hanttcah December  26 

1909  1911 

Pureem March  7  Pureem March  14 

Passover April  6,  7,  12,  13  Passover April  13,  14,  19,  20 

Pentecost May  26,  27  Pentecost June  2,  3 

New  Year September  16,  17  New  Year September  23,  24 

Atonement  ....September  25  Atonement... .October  2 

Tabernacles. ..Sept.  30,  Oct.  1,  7,  8  Tabernacles. ..October  7,  8,  14.  15 

Hanucah December  8  Hanucah December  16 


Hime  of  Sabbatb  in  Hew 

(According  to  the  Tables  of  Rev.  J.  Jessurun  Pinto.) 

January  22 4.3O  July  22 6.3O 

February  22 5.OO  August  22 6.OO 

March  15 5.3O  September  15 5.3O 

April  8 6.OO  October  8 5.00 

May  1 6.3O  November  1 4.3O 

May  15 7.OO  November  22 4.OO 

GENERAL  RULE. — Work  should  cease  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  sunset. 


Synagogues  of  tbe  Congregation,  5442-5668 

Prior  to  5442  (1682)  the  Congregation  worshipped  in  the  loft  of  a  flour 
mill  on  Mill  Street  rented  from  one  John  Harpording 

MILL  STREET,  Frame  Building        -        ...  erected,  6442=1682 

MILL  STREET,  New  Building  "          549O=173O 

MILL   STREET,  Rebuilt       -  "          5578=1818 

CROSBY   STREET  "          5594=1834 

NINETEENTH   STREET       ------  "          5620=1860 

CENTRAL   PARK   WEST "          5657=1897 


A     000114037     5 


